Burnout and Resilience among Human Service Professionals in South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa, the Child and Youth Care Worker (CYCW) provides care to children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS. The job duties of a CYCW are parallel to those of a direct practice social worker in the United States; although in South Africa these individuals generally do not have a university degree. Many experience multiple losses, high levels of stress, and a lack of access to resources in their personal lives; however, despite these seemingly insurmountable challenges, they provide high-quality care. The purpose of this study was 1) to determine the degree to which CYCW are impacted by burnout, 2) to determine if there are differences in levels of burnout among CYCW, and 3) to determine if participation in a semi-structured interview focused on respondents' work experiences impacted affective state.